ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Wednesday stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had spoken clearly and deliberately on Iran’s ballistic missile programme, and that the PM’s remarks in parliament were made in the context of the overall regional situation.
“The Prime Minister spoke in a measured and deliberate manner on Iran’s ballistic missile programme,” Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi told reporters. “What he said in parliament was in the context of the broader situation as a whole.”
Andrabi said the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz had ended, with talks ongoing to determine its final status. He said Pakistan had supported maintaining the status quo of the strait, which Islamabad considers a vital international trade corridor. Pakistan’s question of a trade gateway with Iran, he added, remained linked to the lifting of sanctions.
The spokesperson said President Pezeshkian’s visit to Islamabad had reflected international confidence in Pakistan’s role as a mediator. He added that Pakistan was involved in technical-level talks connected to strategic matters, and that Pakistan’s UN representative Nabeel Munir had represented the country in technical negotiations on June 22.
Addressing the scenario of Pakistani hostages in Somalia, Andrabi said that a diplomatic team from Djibouti to Somalia has been dispatched as part of efforts to secure their release, stressing that the matter remained a top government priority. “We are utilising multiple channels, diplomatic means, friendly countries, local NGOs, and assistance of activist Ansar Burney to secure their release,” he said.
On the US-Iran nuclear negotiations, Andrabi said Pakistan and Qatar had jointly hosted the first high-level session under the Islamabad MoU framework. “Senior negotiators will regularly brief the high-level committee on progress in the negotiations,” he said. “Pakistan and Qatar will remain in continuous contact with American and Iranian technical teams in the coming weeks.”
On attacks on Kuwait, Bahrain, and the UAE, Andrabi said Pakistan’s position was fully in accordance with international law. He acknowledged China’s role in regional security, particularly regarding Afghanistan, and noted that both Pakistan and China face threats emanating from Afghanistan. On India, Andrabi was characteristically brief: “Abusive language from India’s top leadership is routine. It is not surprising to us.”
